Three-way primary set for new Nassau district

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It will be a three-way Democratic primary for a newly created state Assembly district in western Nassau County, officials said Monday after two other hopefuls were disqualified because of ballot-petition errors.

Nassau County Elections Commissioner William T. Biamonte said three candidates will be on the Sept. 13 primary ballot:

- Michaelle Solages, a paralegal, librarian assistant at Hofstra University and the official party designee. She is also the sister of Carrié Solages, a county legislator.

- Patricia Maher, president of the Merrick Avenue Civic Association and a former county legislature candidate.

Biamonte said two candidates, Patrick Emeagwali, a college professor and Elmont school board member, and Cristobal Stewart, a Valley Stream school board member, originally had turned in more than the 500 petition signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. But after legal challenges forced a review, each candidate was left with fewer than 400 valid signatures – knocking them out of the contest.

The new district was created earlier this year in the decennial redistricting process. Long Island gained an additional Assembly seat, giving it 22, at the expense of upstate New York. The district borders Queens and covers Bellerose, Elmont, Valley Stream and North Woodmere, among other areas.

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